WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

Grey River Argus, 23 June 1906, Page 1

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

THE "LADIES'" NIGHT IN PARLIAMENT.

LONDON, April 27. When women gti the franchise in this country, if they ever do, it will be in spite of, and not because of, the feminine of the movement. The band of women agitators who have been making themselves so notor ious during the last, few months have a perfect genius of going about their work in the wrong way, and bringing themselves and their cause into ridi 1 cule and contempt. They have been expelled from political meeting for disordrly conduct; "moved on by the police for hawking s pamphlets in the street; forcibly removed from Downing street, wfiere " .thjey invaded the Prme Minister's residence. The climax came on Wednesday evening, when the "suffragettes"" held up the House of Commons, Tand created a scene without -precedent in the history of the Mother of Parliaments. From first' to last their bWavior has shown a. sad lack "of the saving sense of humor and of * 'Ordinary- 'everyday acumen. Their want of hurnbr'was never more conspicuous than oil' Wednesday night, their judgment never more hopelessly 'at fault. And as '-humorless people are' the greatest of unebnscidus-humor-ists, -these absurd ladies Succeeded in making themselves the laughing-stock o°f w ftfe-. House' of Commons and the country atTargt: —^.^_ The whole affair was really "too r A\ : diculous. The debate in the House on the subject of fenf&le franchise was opened by Mr Keir-Hardie, who moved ".That in the opinion ;of. this House it is desirable that Sex' should cease to be a bar to the exercise of the Parliamentary franchise/; There is no doubt that the majority of the members present had come down to ,the House intending Unvote for the resolution, but the "suffragettes" in the Ladies' Gallery toot matters in their own hands. Towards the adjournment hour (11 p.m.) Mr Sam Evans began a speech apparently designed to talk the motion A out,. and it was then that the ladies' gallery "grew restless. Voices from behind the "grille" which covers the face of the gallery were to be heard calling, "Divide!" Strangers calling, out in the sacred precincts of Parliament! The Sergeant-at-Arms, when Tie haß recovered sufficiently from the shock -to speak, sent attendants forthwith to the ladies' gallery to remove the disturbers of the peace' and dignity of the House. Meanwhile Mr Evan's speech was interrupted by persistent voices from the ladies' gallery. Among the cries heard were, "We will not have- this talk any longer," "Divide, divide," "Divide, divide," "Vote, vote, vote," "Vote for justice to women," "We refuse to have our bill talked out, true liberty-loving Liberal*.* Mr Evans: Is it not desirable that the gallery should he cleared? Voices in the ladies' gallery: "Divide, divide," "Vote, vote/ "Vote for justice to women," "Vote, vote," "Divide, divide, divide," "Vote, divide. ' K flag was thrust through the grating of the ladies' gallery, with the legend, "Vote for Justice for Wo'me'n^" Arms were thrust between the 'bars, and_ fists angrily shaken at the members. Mr W. Redmond: I desirje._ to ask 'as a point of. order whether it is in accordance with decency that a policeman should be called "into the gallery to turn ladies out? (Loud cries of "Certainly.") The Speaker (who sits with his back to the ladies' gallery) :I am, unfortunately, the only person who cannot see what is going (Laughter.) I gave instructions to the attendants thai the ladies' gallery should be cleared. (Cheers.) Throughout "the disturbance Mr Hardie remained in his seat, looking particularly displeased. Other members, who had nearly all stood up to gof a better view of the scene, resumed their seats, many of those opposed to the motion raising a sarcastic laugh. In the meantime half a dozen policemen hurried to the gallery, and requested the ladies, who were headed by Miss Millington, to leave. All departed without demur except the lady narAed, who clung to the bars of the griljle, and had to be carried out by a policeman. "Beast!" she hissed as the! man in blue gently, but firmly, re moved her clenched fingers from the bars. In the corridors outside the gallery the ladies assembled, Joking very excited and heated, as if they had come through a scuffle. One or two had, in the : general confusion, forgotten their hats, which a policeman promptly fetched. They seemed inclined to resume the Agitation in the passage, and continued uttering angry exclama tipns denouncing the members as "cruel brutes" 1 and "cowards." The flag with the words "Votes for Women" was forgotten in the scurry, and was secured by a member of the Press gallery as a trophy. Mr Sam Evans was prompt to seize -on incident as an additional 'argument against female franchise. Continuing his speech, he asked whether there could be any argument in his favor stronger than what had just oc- , curred (Cheers. ) Did hon. members [.desire that what had taken place in thej gallery should be repeated on the v flo<?r of the House. ? Did they suppose that such exhibiti6ns were approved of by I the mass of the women in this country? (Cheers.) In this strain he proceeded until the adjournment, when the motion automatically lapsed. The general feeling in the lobbies was that the "suffragettes" had completely spoiled their chance by the 'lamentable stupidity. The Labor M.P.'s, who were most of them' strong supporters of female franchise, shared the general sentiment. Mr PHilirj Snowden, who was white with anger, that the misguided action of the'female agitators had put the whole question* of women's enfranchisement back by ten years. At any rate they have succeeded in alienating the sym pathy of the present House of Commons. (New Zealand Times's-Xondon correspondent! )

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